A Catholic bishop is hoping that President Rodrigo Duterte would “reconfigure” his war on the illegal drugs that has already claimed thousands of lives. Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan diocese said another key thing for Duterte is to learn by listening to drug experts. “Allow experts in various fields to take part in coming up with an in-depth study of the root causes of the illegal drug problem in the country,” he said. While authorities strengthen its intelligence work against drug lords and scalawags in the police, he said the government must also strongly support community-based drug rehabilitation programs….

MANILA— The Catholic prelate of war-torn Marawi is opposing the government’s plan to extend the martial law in Mindanao. Bishop Edwin de la Peña of Marawi favored the 60-day military rule in the region but said that extending it is no longer necessary. After all, he said, the government can already deal with the situation in Marawi even without martial law. “I am against martial law extension,” de la Peña said. “The first martial law declaration was fine but if they are going to use Marawi again to justify its extension, I don’t think it’s right.” As the military continue…

Catholic bishops gather for their 115th plenary assembly at Pope Pius XII Center in Manila, July 7, 2017. ROY LAGARDE The term of the newly-elected chairmen of the CBCP Episcopal Commissions, Committees and Offices will be from December 1, 2017 to November 30, 2019. Episcopal Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities Bp. Jose A. Cabantan Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate Bp. Sofronio…

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle speaks during a press conference on the upcoming Philippine Conference on New Evangelization in Manila, July 4, 2017. ROY LAGARDE The head of Manila’s Roman Catholic Church said the flurry of attacks against the spate of drug-related killings has to stop and not just with mere words. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle said that to save more lives and address social problems like drug addiction, condemnation alone is not enough. He said the Church must be more “proactive” in dealing with the problem by coming up with concrete actions to protect life. “As we say do not…

MANILA— As a wave of drug-related killings continues in the country, a Catholic bishop condemned those who sow violence the same way some once supported Judas against Jesus. In a strongly-worded homily during a Mass after a “Walk for Life” in Navotas City on Sunday, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan said that behind the violence are “Judases” who are in cahoots with the killers. He said if some people consider the suspected drug personalities as “termites of society,” so are those behind the extrajudicial killings. “They are the new ‘Makapili’ during the Japanese’ time who would betray their fellowmen and…

As fake news takes over social media feeds, the country’s Catholic bishops on Wednesday called on the faithful to fight spread of false information and online deception. For the first time, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines issued a pastoral exhortation against fake news which is “a sin against charity” because it leads the people to wrong decisions. “Our Catholic faith obliges us to refrain from patronizing, popularizing and supporting identified sources of ‘alternative facts’ or ‘fake news’,” the bishops said. “Refuse to be themselves purveyors of fake news and to desist from disseminating this whether on social media…

MANILA— The militants linked to the Islamic State has threatened to kill their hostages, including a Catholic priest, if the military offensive against them continues, a Catholic bishop said. Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Peña said he received a call last night from one of the militants, who introduced himself as “a member of the ISIS”, and demanded for a “unilateral ceasefire”. “They want a ceasefire and for the military to give them access out of Marawi. Otherwise, they will kill the hostages,” Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Peña said. The prelate said the call was made shortly before 8pm on…

February is Pro-Life month. This is a month dedicated to the preservation and respect for human life, and the sanctity of marriage and the Filipino family. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Engaging the Catholic Faithful in the Promotion of Life and the Defense of the Family. “ PRO-LIFE MONTH ACTIVITIES, 2016 FEBRUARY 7,2016 – PRO-LIFE SUNDAY OPENING OF PRO-LIFE MONTH VENUE: NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH 1923 Orense St. Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City MASS CELEBRANT: REV. FR. RODERICK L. CASTRO TIME: 10:00 AM FEBRUARY 14, 2016 CANDY GIVING PROJECT with FILIPINOS FOR LIFE and with the groups/individuals who wish…

(Raul Nidoy, a Doctor in Theology and Director for Formation of the Parents for Education Foundation (PAREF) By: (Fr. Mickey Cardenas / CBCP News) PASIG City, Jan. 15, 2016 – Amidst the alarm and anger of Reproductive Health (RH) Law advocates over the scrapping from the 2016 budget of a Php 1-billion allocation for family planning commodities, an educator renewed the warning on the adverse effects of contraceptives not only on people’s physical health but on the very integrity of society’s most basic unit. “Why can contraception destroy the family? Because the family, by its very internal workings, was envisioned by…

Sept. 9, 2015, Pro-Life Philippines commemorates the 3rd death anniversary of our founder, Sr. Pilar Verzosa, RGS. Three years after Sr. Pilar’s death and we still feel the loss of such a great person. We still miss her dearly, as no one can ever take her place in our hearts. Sr. Pilar was loved by many because she sincerely loved life. People did not hesitate in helping her because she bannered the Pro-life advocacy everywhere she went, and did so with the energy of a hundred men. She loved life, and exuded life. She was there to seek women and…